The Dominican navy sailor went missing Sunday night, while conducting salvage operations of the Dominican navy patrol boat Vega, approximately 25 nautical miles southwest of the Dominican Republic.

Coast Guard Sector San Juan received a request for assistance Monday from the Dominican navy through the U.S. Coast Guard Liaison stationed in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to provide aerial search and rescue support to the ongoing efforts.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the missing sailor on the disappearance of their loved one and to the officers and enlisted personnel of the Dominican navy,” said. Capt. Eduardo Pino, Sector San Juan commander.

U.S. Coast Guard rescue crews have been searching since Monday alongside Dominican navy and air force authorities aboard a Coast Guard Air Station Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft currently deployed to Sector San Juan. So far, Coast Guard rescue crews have flown six sorties covering an area of approximately 1,200 square nautical miles, approximately one third the size of Puerto Rico.